-- The Eagles' loss to the Bucs was the final football game in the history of Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium. Says Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal- Sentinel, "Documentation over the years has demonstrated the only things that ever worked at the Vet were the peepholes."

-- "For security reasons, no blimps will be allowed near the Super Bowl," says Alex Kaseberg. "I just wouldn't want to be the security guard who has to turn away Tony Siragusa."

-- "I don't know what they think about us Raiders fans coming to San Diego, " says Bernie Mraz of Seaside, "but I heard a rumor that Mexico will close its borders."

-- On HBO's "Inside the NFL," Peter King rattled off a list of animals observed by players invading Veterans Stadium over the past 32 years: "Cats, dogs, rats, mice, squirrels, raccoons, and . . . I should say that I forgot one. (Eagles cornerback) Troy Vincent told me there are cockroaches as big as lizards that he used to see down there in the bowels of the Vet."

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Under longtime owner Hugh Culverhouse, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were generally awful. "The Buccaneer Follies can't all be traced to the fact that Culverhouse spent more money on mistresses than quarterbacks," says David Whitley of the Orlando Sentinel. "But his wife of 52 years still wants to kill him. And the man has been dead for nine years."

-- Whitley cited this memorable moment in Bucs' history: "During halftime of a game in Atlanta, offensive tackle Ron Heller exhorted teammates not to quit. Then-coach Ray Perkins happened by -- but heard only the word 'quit.' He punched Heller. But Heller still was wearing his helmet and Perkins broke his thumb."

-- And some great Bucs quotes: Former head coach Richard Williamson asked the media if he had spelled "MRI" correctly. . . . A player named Ira Gordon complained to former coach John McKay, "Coach, I got the X-ray, but I don't feel any better." . . . McKay entered the locker room after a loss and said, "The bus leaves in an hour. Those of you who need to shower, do so."

-- The problem: There's no U.S. boat in the America's Cup final for the second straight competition. The solution: Put Al Davis in charge, and make all crew members wear eye-patches.